WALTHAM, Mass. — This fall, the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University will present an exhibition that promises to spark conversation about Eve as the original femme fatale, and her impact on contemporary culture. On view from Oct. 26, 2009 - Jan. 29, 2010, “Shame” includes work from Roberta Paul’s series “Creation : Science.”

Paul conceived “Creation : Science” to suggest common ground between biblical and scientific views of creation. Presented in a feminist perspective at the WSRC, the body of work will ask provocative questions about history, religion, and contemporary culture.

The paintings in the show will present an eloquent and minimal version of Masaccio’s Renaissance painting of Adam and Eve, at the moment of the Expulsion from Eden. A starry sky filled with conceptual versions of various constellations overlies the figures. The repetition of the same figural image– filled with despair, regret, and shame– from one work to the next inescapably emphasizes the psychological ramifications of their fateful taste. In the paintings, as in the Biblical story, we see Eve as embodying wrongdoing and remorse, and leading to the downfall of humankind.

Although it is thousands of years old, the subject holds contemporary relevance. “Creation : Science” aims to promote a level of discourse between science and religion.

“At this very contentious time, we need to have a vehicle in order to have a civil conversation so that we can talk without screaming,” Paul says. “Adam and Eve were evenly cast out, but we have to acknowledge that it was Eve who got the blame. We have to look at how the theme has been redefined today. In the public eye, like we’ve seen so often in politics and popular culture, women stand by their men. Forgiveness is expected, and blame is overlooked.”

"Creation : Science" ignites a historical exploration of shame, from Eve’s decisive act to modern acts of unscrupulousness.

The Women’s Studies Research Center (WSRC) identifies itself as a place where research, art, and activism converge. Bringing together scholars, students, and artists, the WSRC is a community that thrives on the sharing of knowledge and ideas. The WSRC is home to the Kniznick Gallery, the only exhibition space in New England devoted to the display of women's art and/or art about gender.